On June 2, WJSN emerged as the victorious queens of Queendom 2. Although the group was missing a few faces throughout the show (Bona was filming the hit K-drama Twenty-Five, Twenty-One and could only join in round three, and Dawon was on hiatus due to anxiety), they still proved the strength of their stage presence, their teamwork, and their creative storytelling.
A month after their crowning, WJSN have come back in summer style as a decet with their single album Sequence and its title track “Last Sequence.” As anyone who likes K-pop knows, aesthetics—especially the styling and hair/makeup—are important for defining a group’s concept and drawing eyes to their MVs.
But, there is a difference between a “pretty” MV and a “captivating” one. Luckily, WJSN’s “Last Sequence” is the latter, and it establishes this from the first frame. When stripped down to its bare bones, “Last Sequence” is a run-of-the-mill K-pop MV with its focus on choreography and solo member scenes. There is no clear narrative to “Last Sequence;” however, the gorgeous styling and spot-on makeup choices create a captivating MV built to watch again and again.
The group’s latest MV opens with a hypnotic shot of a swirl of water. As viewers plunge underwater, the scene transitions to a solo shot of Seola by moving through the iris of her blue eye. From there, her long diamond earrings and the rhinestones glued below her eye become clearer. As the camera remains steady on Seola’s face, the sparkle around her inner eye and the bright blue eyeshadow around the outer edge make it difficult to tear your own eyes away.
The rest of the members wear similar looks, creating cohesion within “Last Sequence” without sacrificing individuality. Like Seola, the other nine don simple yet elegant full-length gowns, which are briefly revealed as the curtain in front of them is pulled back. The highlight, again, of each of these looks is their makeup and their bulkier jewelry, which adds a different texture.
For example, a shawl of cascading pearls drapes around Dawon’s shoulders as she sings into her mic with an underwater scene behind her. Her outfit and wide movements capture attention, and the camera holds onto it by zooming into her face in a circular motion. After the full-length shot, which shows off her blue dress and the dramatic atmosphere, the MV cuts to a close-up of Dawon. She maintains steady eye contact, allowing viewers to soak in her makeup look. Thick, teal eyeshadow blends into a thinner light pink and purple eyeshadow, while a hint of sparkle dances when it catches the right light.
Leader and rapper Exy also draws gazes with the variety of pearls placed around her eyes. Small ones rest delicately near the corners and a larger one sits in a similar location to Seola’s gemstones. The eyes are once again accented (this time with pearls), and Exy’s lower neck and ears, which are also seen in the shot, are blurry. Both are dripping in shiny jewelry, but the MV decides to emphasize her face by casting a smudged, faded effect; it’s as though Vaseline was covering the camera lens instead. The rest of Exy’s look goes the simple route. In addition to the pearls, she wears a warm eyeshadow color that has a bit of glimmer, leaning into the shimmery yet sophisticated feeling of the MV aesthetic.
“Last Sequence” features three more outfit changes, all which contribute to the romantic summer vibe of the song. In the first group choreography scene, the members wear crop tops and mini skirts in different tints of orange and yellow. Their movements occasionally catch in the reflective marble-looking floor, but the eye is most often drawn to the sparkles of their outfits. The tall silver boots and tinsel-like pieces around their outfits, which are very swishy, add to the fun of their fluid choreography.
The members’ “glamor” style appears in between the choreography and solo shots, often when WJSN observe themselves in a mirror or sings behind a wet pane of glass. Dayoung’s scenes best display this more mature side of the group. She leans against a grand piano, highlighting her blond bob and natural makeup in the close-up shot. The cheerful vocalist and her casual sophistication is seen through her gently mused hair (especially at the ends), her vibrant rosy red lip color, and, again, a light shimmer around her eyes. A tad more blush on her cheeks than usual and the pinkish-red wrap dress she dons complete this graceful look.
WJSN close out “Last Sequence” with an all-white ensemble. The simplicity of these outfits highlight their unity as a group, which is a fitting theme for the final choreography scenes. The ten dance on a large, shiny stage with spotlights all around them.
The white costumes are almost like uniforms, but the details for each member varies, such as the placement of the cut outs for their tops or where the string of diamonds are added. In these scenes, individual faces are deemphasized while their image as WJSN as a whole is literally spotlit. Their sleek hairstyles, like Bona’s low ponytail and Luda’s straightened auburn locks, put the cherry on top of showcasing the group’s maturity in one shot.
“Last Sequence” ends where it began. The ten queens of WJSN are found in a line, the shades of their long blue dresses complementing one another, as the camera draws back. The curtain closes in a gesture reminiscent of their “Pantomime” performance on Queendom 2. The freedom, romanticism, and summertime daze of “Last Sequence” is gone, and we are back where we began.
The MV for “Last Sequence” demonstrates the power of the little details and the stunning effect they can have when done well, particularly in the styling and makeup departments. By emphasizing close-ups and consistent fluid motion, the MV makes a memorable splash in an industry where visuals rule. Furthermore, “Last Sequence” has a refreshing sound that makes for easy (and on-repeat) listening, and this aspect of it allows for the visuals of the MV to stand out even more. The track does not overpower the little details but rather blends with them quite nicely.
The song itself fits comfortably in WJSN’s romantic discography. If anything, Queendom 2 allowed them the space to strengthen this foundation after trying a few different types of performances styles and concepts. WJSN moved between being ethereal timekeepers, mysterious sorcerers, and 1920s-style party goers with a few challenges. Yet, “Last Sequence” brings the group back to their romantic roots, which is also expressed through the MV styling.
This new track tells a hopeful story—perfect for the bright summer season—of a love fully realized. With lyrics such as “This moment which will be remembered” and “You are my last sequence,” WJSN could be singing about a significant other kind of love or about the love they have for their fans, especially with Sequence arriving right after Queendom 2. Keywords and phrases such as “light dazzlingly shines,” fluttering, and “I bloom” provide inspiration for the makeup looks in “Last Sequence.” These links between the text and the visuals only create a more impactful comeback.
WJSN also connect “Last Sequence” to their Queendom 2 experience and lean into framing the song with “stage” references. They drop mentions of “scenes,” “finales,” and “new chapters” into the track and even declare, “There is no ending / The show must go on.” This sentiment is echoed later in the bridge when Yeonjung sings, “The stage that seemed to be the end / It was another beginning.” Queendom 2 may have concluded and crowned its winner (with WJSN as the minted queens), but just because this stage is gone, it does not mean that the other contestants’ nor WJSN’s careers are over. Rather, post-Queendom 2 has started a new chapter and will encourage new opportunities.
The rest of the single album, Sequence, marks additional stories of transition. If “Last Sequence” highlighted that an end can also mean a beginning, “Done” signals a different side of WJSN’s romanticism. In the dance track, which features some light autotune, they break up with their significant other. The relationship is toxic, they realize now, and so they declare, “I don’t need your love.” The chorus, too, showcases the group’s growth and the maturity of their lyric content:
‘Cause I love myself, I love my body
You know it’s the end
What else do you want? (Don’t touch my mind)
The last track, “Stronger,” is a powerful duet sung by Dawon and Yeonjung (WJSN’s Queendom 2 finale song, “Aura,” is also part of this single album, but it is only available on the CD version). The ebb-and-flow of their vocals and the soaring instrumentals, which Dawon helped compose, bring home the message of Sequence. This stirring ballad marks the beginning of the next chapter of WJSN and their increased willingness to be vulnerable in their music:
I try to be strong
Every day, I dreamt the same dream
But I want to rewind,
Turn right back to the start
Help me
“Stronger” is just what WJSN are now, having survived in the competitive K-pop landscape for six years and as the newly crowned winners of Queendom 2. But the group also demonstrates that they have not stopped growing yet in Sequence. Who knows what exactly is in store for the decet post-Queendom 2, but whatever happens, WJSN are bound to do it in style.
(YouTube. Lyrics via Genius [1][2][3]. Images via Starship Entertainment.)
